Updated 2022 Mazda MX-30 Still Has Tiny 100-Mile Range But Charges 10 Mins Faster

Mazda has updated its MX-30 electric crossover, and while it hasn’t increased the size of the tiny battery, it has at least made that battery slightly more useful by cutting the time needed to charge it.

The MX-30 features an unusually small 35.5 kWh battery that gives it a range of just 124 miles (200 km) according to WLTP testing, and is rated at only 100 miles (161 km) by the EPA. That’s around half of what most EVs deliver, and hasn’t improved for 2022. But technical changes mean that bonsai battery’s charging time has reduced from 36 minutes to 26 minutes.

Mazda also claims it has made changes to the MX-30’s drivetrain sound that helps the driver recognise the amount of torque being generated by the motor (and presumably respond by easing back on the gas pedal to reduce power consumption). The company says the revised sound has been designed to fit more naturally with other car noises like wind and road noise.

The updated cars are also offered with new interior and exterior colors, and come in three different trim grades. At the bottom of the ladder on Euro-spec cars there’s the MX-30 Prime-Line, which gets 18 in alloy wheels, plus the LED headlights, reversing camera, radar cruise control, navigation and head-up display fitted to every model.

Related: Mazda Confirms Rotary Range Extender For Plug-in MX-30 Coming This Year

Middle of the pack, but predicted to be out in front when it comes to sales, the MX-30 Exclusive-Line builds on the Prime-Line’s list of kit with power seats, keyless entry and the option of three-tone color scheme instead of the base car’s single-tone design. Top of the tree is the Makato, which brings artificial leather, a wiper de-icer, sunroof, heater steering wheel and Bose surround sound tunes.

All of which sounds very nice, but Mazda hasn’t added any further details about the real game-changing upgrade heading the MX-30’s way. It confirmed in April that a rotary-powered range-extender version of the crossover would go on sale later this year, the engine being used solely to charge the battery. The 2022 MX-30 is available to order in Europe now.